Tuesday, February 13, 2018 10:03 AM |
Anonymous

TOMORROW: Cover to Cover with Dr. Quick

Somewhere in nature, a killer virus is boiling up in the bloodstream of a wild animal, preparing to jump to a human being. This not-yet-detected germ has the potential to wipe out millions of lives over a matter of weeks or months. That risk makes the threat posed by ISIS, a ground war, a massive climate event, or even the dropping of a nuclear bomb on a major city pale in comparison.

In The End of Epidemics, Dr. Jonathan Quick, Harvard Medical School faculty member and Chair of the Global Heath Council, examines the eradication of smallpox and devastating effects of influenza, AIDS SARS, and Ebola. Analyzing efforts to contain these diseases and citing firsthand accounts of failure and success, Dr. Quick proposes a new set of actions which he has coined, "The Power of Seven," to end epidemics before they begin.

Join us for February'sCover to Covertomorrow, February 13, at 2:00-2:30 PM ET.

KNOW NOW: A New U.S. Strategy for Sudan

Ambassador (Ret.) Mary Carlin Yates recently returned from Sudan, where she served as U.S. Interim Chargé d'Affaires (2011-2012). The goal of the January trip was to make progress on assessing a re-engagement strategy between the U.S. and this geopolitically significant state, at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East.

"We are at a critical time, and the progress towards re-engagement and having a strong bilateral relationship beneficial to both nations hangs in the balance as Khartoum's government and president flirt with closer relations with Russia," Ambassador Yates told WACA and WorldOregon in an email.

Please join WACA in wishing a warm welcome to Robert Foster, the new Executive Director of World Affairs Council of St. Louis. Foster brings more than 30 years of professional association and communications experience to the position. He previously served as Executive Director of the American Optometric Student Association.

WACA would also like to congratulate Robert Fischer on his retirement after 16 years of service at the Council's helm. Bob, currently a member of the WACA National Board, has been named Executive Director, Emeritus of WAC St. Louis.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to Speak at WAC Atlanta

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf- Africa's "Iron Lady" - overcame abuse, imprisonment, and exile to become the first elected female head of state in Africa. President of Liberia from 2006 until this year, Sirleaf turned her country around after 25 years of violence and misrule by securing peace in Liberia, promoting economic and social development, and strengthening the position of women - all of which earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, WACA's Council of the Month, will host Kenton Keith, former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar (1992-1995),tomorrow, February 13. Amb. Keith will discuss "Iran Versus Saudi Arabia." The evening will also include a reception and dinner prior to Amb. Keith's remarks. Details

Tuesday, February 06, 2018 9:19 AM |
Anonymous

Council of the Month for February:

WAC Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Having recently navigated the challenge of launching a new and improved website, WACA is keeping an eye out for member Councils that are taking on such a big challenge. We recognize World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky as our Council of the Month to highlight their world-class website and re-branding.

"DeanHouston stepped up with an investment of time and expertise to advise the Council leadership through a name change, new logo, messaging, marketing tools, and website. As a small nonprofit organization leading global education efforts, connecting local business and family to world leaders, and creating a culturally aware and informed community, our online and outward presence has shifted to meet the needs of today's society," said Michelle Harpenau, Executive Director. "What you see today came out of this process to better share our story." And what a story it is!

The Oman 2018 program series will feature SQCC experts on U.S.-Oman relations, and a presentation of the country's contributions to business, trade, investment, culture, and education.

*Council Leaders: The application process for WACA grant funding for the Future of Korea 2018 program will open later this week. Stay tuned!

February Cover to Cover: The End of Epidemics

Somewhere in nature, a killer virus is boiling up in the bloodstream of a wild animal, preparing to jump to a human being. This not-yet-detected germ has the potential to wipe out millions of lives over a matter of weeks or months. That risk makes the threat posed by ISIS, a ground war, a massive climate event, or even the dropping of a nuclear bomb on a major city pale in comparison.

In The End of Epidemics, Dr. Jonathan Quick, Harvard Medical School faculty member and Chair of the Global Heath Council, examines the eradication of smallpox and devastating effects of influenza, AIDS SARS, and Ebola. Analyzing efforts to contain these diseases and citing firsthand accounts of failure and success, Dr. Quick proposes a new set of actions which he has coined, "The Power of Seven," to end epidemics before they begin.

Ambassador Mary Carlin Yates recently traveled to Sudan, where she had served as U.S. Interim Chargé d'Affaires (2011-2012). Previously, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana (2002-2005). While US Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi (1999-2002), Yates worked to bring stability with the Burundian peace process, led by former South African President Nelson Mandela. She also served in Kinshasa, Zaïre (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), as a political officer and then public affairs counselor in the early '90s during the genocide in neighboring Rwanda.

The Great Decisions Teachers Institute is a once in a lifetime opportunity for high school educators to immerse themselves in some of America's biggest foreign policy challenges and build their skills in teaching international affairs. For four days, teachers from across the United States, Mexico, and Canada will attend lectures presented by experts and policy makers, interact with teaching colleagues, and acquire new teaching resources and curriculum ideas. See the flyer.

To apply, all applicants are required to complete the application questionnaire. The questionnaire can be accessed here, or by visiting www.fpa.org/institute/.

High school educators nationwide are invited to apply byMarch 16, 2018. All applicants will be notified byApril 13, 2018.

If you have any questions in regards to the application or the Great Decisions Teachers Institute, please email teachers@fpa.org, or call the Foreign Policy Association at 212-481-8100 x250.

Academic WorldQuest 2018

Information for the 2017-2018 Academic WorldQuest program is now available!

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:45 PM |
Anonymous

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

State of U.S. Foreign Policy; What's Next for Syria?; New Fighting in Yemen; Rohingya Continue to Suffer; Kenya: Off Air

Quote of the Week:

"A great American leader will fashion strategies that ensure ISIS and al Qaeda don't return. A great American leader will remember that it is our values that distinguish us most, and mean we must stand up to the genuine threat that the People's Republic of China and Putin's Russia represent. If that leadership and those values were what you were listening for, you were sorely disappointed."

-- Danielle Pletka, Senior Vice President of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, in an interview with PBS Newshour about President Trump's State of the Union Address on Tuesday.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 9:13 AM |
Anonymous

Ambassador Heather Hodges, Cleveland Council on World Affairs President and Ambassador-in-Residence, and Bill Clifford, WACA President and CEO, will be featured in a panel discussion on "Why Diplomacy Matters Today and to You."

Read the Dayton Daily News article on the Council's landmark year, and please join WACA in wishing them another 70 years of quality programming on world affairs!

TOMORROW: KNOW NOW Control Risks Webinar

The year 2017 saw a host of new challenges for global organizations, and continued economic and political volatility, heightened by competing leadership styles on the world stage. What should citizens and decision-makers expect in 2018?

WACA is pleased to present a special KNOW NOW webinar, featuring Charles Hecker, Senior Partner at Control Risks, to help us answer this salient question.

Hecker will discuss the Top 5 Risks facing global organizations in the year ahead:

North Korea escalation

Large-scale cyber attacks targeting infrastructure

U.S. becoming protectionist

Big power rivalry in the Middle East

Personalized leadership

The webinar will showcase highlights from Control Risks' RiskMap, an annual forecast for political and security risk around the world.

Somewhere in nature, a killer virus is boiling up in the bloodstream of a wild animal, preparing to jump to a human being. This not-yet-detected germ has the potential to wipe out millions of lives over a matter of weeks or months. That risk makes the threat posed by ISIS, a ground war, a massive climate event, or even the dropping of a nuclear bomb on a major city pale in comparison.

In The End of Epidemics, Dr. Jonathan Quick, Harvard Medical School faculty member and Chair of the Global Heath Council, examines the eradication of smallpox and devastating effects of influenza, AIDS SARS, and Ebola. Analyzing efforts to contain these diseases and citing firsthand accounts of failure and success, Dr. Quick proposes a new set of actions which he has coined, "The Power of Seven," to end epidemics before they begin.

Did you know that WACA features Council events on its new website? Council leaders and staff: log in to your member account now and add your events for a chance for your Council to be highlighted on our main page!

Thursday, February 1

WorldBoston hosts Elin Suleymanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the U.S., for "Azerbaijan at the Strategic Crossroads of Eurasia." Details

Richmond World Affairs Council hosts Barbara Bodine, Director of Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, for "Analyzing Yemen." Details

World Affairs Council of Central Illinois hosts Jerry Kruse, CEO of Southern Illinois University Healthcare, for "The U.S. Healthcare System(s): Time for International Comparative Policy Analysis." Details

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts Raul Rodriguez-Barocio, Co-Chair of the International Committee of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University, for "Mexico: NAFTA, the Wall and Distant Neighbors." Details

Santa Fe Council on International Relations hosts Janet Steele, Director of the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication at The George Washington University, for "Journalism and Islam." Details

Friday, February 2

World Affairs Council of Inland Southern California hosts Sarah Schneewind, Associate Professor of History at the University of California San Diego, for "The Dark World in the Founding of the Ming Dynasty." Details

WorldOregon hosts Merrill McPeak, U.S. Air Force General (Ret.) for "Great Decisions: U.S. Global Engagement and Military." Details

Monday, January 29, 2018 10:03 AM |
Anonymous

TOMORROW - 2 PM ET: Top Risks for 2018

Top Risks for 2018

The year 2017 saw a host of new challenges for global organizations, and continued economic and political volatility, heightened by competing leadership styles on the world stage. What should citizens and decision-makers expect in 2018?

WACA is pleased to present a special KNOW NOW webinar, featuringCharles Hecker, Senior Partner at Control Risks, to help us answer this salient question.

The webinar will showcase highlights from Control Risks' RiskMap, an annual forecast for political and security risk around the world.

Somewhere in nature, a killer virus is boiling up in the bloodstream of a wild animal, preparing to jump to a human being. This not-yet-detected germ has the potential to wipe out millions of lives over a matter of weeks or months. That risk makes the threat posed by ISIS, a ground war, a massive climate event, or even the dropping of a nuclear bomb on a major city pale in comparison.

In The End of Epidemics, Dr. Jonathan Quick, Harvard Medical School faculty member and Chair of the Global Heath Council, examines the eradication of smallpox and devastating effects of influenza, AIDS SARS, and Ebola. Analyzing efforts to contain these diseases and citing firsthand accounts of failure and success, Dr. Quick proposes a new set of actions which he has coined, "The Power of Seven," to end epidemics before they begin.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 1:35 PM |
Anonymous

"The world is led by an increasingly outstanding array - not just of people - but of personas. Hard against the business risk landscape is a collection of assertive leaders who rely on nationalism, and to varying degrees, populism."

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 8:33 AM |
Anonymous

Special KNOW NOW: Control Risks Webinar

The year 2017 saw a host of new challenges for global organizations, and continued economic and political volatility heightened by competing leadership styles on the world stage. What should citizens and decision-makers expect in 2018?

WACA is pleased to present a special KNOW NOW webinar, featuring DC-based consultancy Control Risks' outlook for 2018.

Ryan Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon, will speak on "Middle East Meltdown: Causes and Consequences for the U.S." at WAC Orange County's commemorative event. Details.

World Affairs Council of Hilton Head Hosts President of Chicago Council on Global Affairs

If you're a high school student, you're invited to submit either an essay or a video on this question.

Maximum essay length: 750 words; maximum video length: 5 minutes

Winners in each medium will be judged by an expert panel of educators and designers of student outreach programs. See more details here.

Criteria for judging:

Creative engagement with the Centennial Challenge topic

Compelling demonstration of the position you take

Breadth and depth of the vision you present

Prizes:

1st prize: $1500 and expenses paid for a trip to attend the 2018 Foreign Policy Centennial Spring Dinner in New York City

2nd prize: $500

3rd prize: $500

Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2018

WACA - Global Ties U.S. Breakfast

The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to sponsor the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting once again this year as part of a reciprocal arrangement to strengthen collaboration between our organizations.

For those Council leaders, staff, and board members who plan to attend the Global Ties "Change Through Exchange" Conference in Washington, DC, we cordially invite you to participate in the WACA breakfast on Thursday, February 8, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Cover to Cover: February

Somewhere in nature, a killer virus is boiling up in the bloodstream of a wild animal, preparing to jump to a human being. This not-yet-detected germ has the potential to wipe out millions of lives over a matter of weeks or months. That risk makes the threat posed by ISIS, a ground war, a massive climate event, or even the dropping of a nuclear bomb on a major city pale in comparison.

In The End of Epidemics, Dr. Jonathan Quick, Harvard Medical School faculty member and Chair of the Global Heath Council, examines the eradication of smallpox and devastating effects of influenza, AIDS SARS, and Ebola. Analyzing efforts to contain these diseases and citing firsthand accounts of failure and success, Dr. Quick proposes a new set of actions which he has coined, "The Power of Seven," to end epidemics before they begin.

The year 2017 saw a host of new challenges for global organizations, and continued economic and political volatility heightened by competing leadership styles on the world stage. What should organizational decision-makers expect in 2018?

Join us for special webinar KNOW NOW featuring highlights from Control Risks' RiskMap, an annual forecast for political and security risk around the world.

Control Risks is a specialist global risk consultancy that helps to create secure, compliant and resilient organizations in an age of ever-changing risk.

Join us for this month's KNOW NOW on Tuesday, January 30, at 2:00-2:45 PM ET.

WACA Seeks Chief Operations Officer

The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to announce the open position of Chief Operating Officer. The COO will provide internal management of the WACA national office staff and oversee a variety of organizational priorities and projects. See the full posting and send complete applications to apply@worldaffairscouncils.org. Apply by Monday, January 22

FPA Student Essay/Video Competition

What is America's biggest challenge in the world?

If you're a high school student, you're invited to submit either an essay or a video on this question.

Maximum essay length: 750 words; maximum video length: 5 minutes

Winners in each medium will be judged by an expert panel of educators and designers of student outreach programs. See more details here.

Criteria for judging:

Creative engagement with the Centennial Challenge topic

Compelling demonstration of the position you take

Breadth and depth of the vision you present

Prizes:

1st prize: $1500 and expenses paid for a trip to attend the 2018 Foreign Policy Centennial Spring Dinner in New York City

2nd prize: $500

3rd prize: $500

Deadline for submissions:January 31, 2018

WACA - Global Ties U.S. Breakfast

The World Affairs Councils of America is pleased to sponsor the Global Ties U.S. National Meeting once again this year as part of a reciprocal arrangement to strengthen collaboration between our organizations.

For those Council leaders, staff, and board members who plan to attend the Global Ties "Change Through Exchange" Conference in Washington, DC, we cordially invite you to participate in the WACA breakfast on Thursday, February 8, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Cover to Cover: February

Somewhere in nature, a killer virus is boiling up in the bloodstream of a wild animal, preparing to jump to a human being. This not-yet-detected germ has the potential to wipe out millions of lives over a matter of weeks or months. That risk makes the threat posed by ISIS, a ground war, a massive climate event, or even the dropping of a nuclear bomb on a major city pale in comparison.

In The End of Epidemics, Dr. Jonathan Quick, Harvard Medical School faculty member and Chair of the Global Heath Council, examines the eradication of smallpox and devastating effects of influenza, AIDS SARS, and Ebola. Analyzing efforts to contain these diseases and citing firsthand accounts of failure and success, Dr. Quick proposes a new set of actions which he has coined, "The Power of Seven," to end epidemics before they begin.

Please note:the links in this block for the AWQ Study Guide are up to date. Links from previous emails may no longer be active due to the launch of the new WACA website.

Sponsored by: United States Institute of Peace

World Affairs Councils Highlights

Did you know that WACA features Council events on its new website? Council leaders and staff: log in to your member account now and add your events for a chance for your Council to be highlighted on our main page!

Tuesday, January 16

Cleveland Council on World Affairs hosts its Academic WorldQuest Competition. Details

Colorado Foothills World Affairs Council hosts David Firestein, Founding Executive Director of the China Public Policy Center, for "China's 19th People's Congress." Details

World Affairs Council of Maine holds a discussion group, "Effects of Pulling Out of the Paris Climate Accord." Details

Wednesday, January 17

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts David Firestein, Founding Executive Director of the China Public Policy Center, for "China - After the 19th Party Congress."Details

World Affairs Council of San Antonio hosts a panel of experts for "Dream Week: World Topics, Personal Voices." Details

San Diego World Affairs Council hosts Dr. Khaleel Mohammed, Professor at San Diego State University, for "Understanding Islam and Its Role in Global Affairs." Details

Indiana Council on World Affairs hosts Jorge Sanchez Catano, Deputy Consul of Mexico, for "Mexico: U.S. Neighbor and Friend." Details

Worcester World Affairs Council hosts Graham Allison, former Director of the Harvard University Belfer Center Science and International Affairs, for "Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucidides' Trap?" Details

Olympia World Affairs Council hosts Tom Rainey, Faculty Emeritus at The Evergreen State College, for "Russia and China's Strategic Alliance: Implications for the U.S." Details

World Affairs Council of Las Vegas hosts Dr. Bruce Bennett, Senior International Defense Researcher at the RAND Corporation, for "Is Military Conflict a Prospect for the U.S. in East Asia?" Details

World Affairs Council of Austin hosts a panel of experts for, "Driving Innovation: 2018 Business Forecast." Details

World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Graham Allison, former Director of the Harvard University Belfer Center Science and International Affairs, for "Destined for War: The Future of the American and Chinese Relationship." Details